Gender Roles In Disney Films

A prominent recurrence we see through Disney films is how females must rely on males to rescue them. Throughout numerous Disney films “every women is portrayed as a damsel in distress where the man is the hero and the women too weak to rescue herself.” (Dreams don't always come true, Bridgette Slevin, 2009). For example we see in Beauty and the Beast a scene where Belle flees the castle on horseback and is very nearly attacked by vicious wolves, nevertheless the Beast comes to the rescue and saves her from the wolves fighting them away heroically. The camera is directed to show Belle from a high angle emphasising the representation that she is weak and powerless.The beginning of the film Belle is portrayed as independent, intelligent and

Instead males are fulfilling the ambitious roles. These fairy tales teach women to be submissive in this male dominated world. Belle of “Beauty and the Beast” (1991) is described as a “strange” “funny girl” by the townspeople as she is seen reading and enthusiastically making her way to the library. She shows interest in pursuing knowledge and intellect by learning from her reading. However the people around here are disgraced because“ it’s not right for a woman to read” and Gaston negatively exclaims that “soon she starts getting ideas, thinking.” Giving us the viewers the idea that women should not read, they do not need to learn or be capable to think for themselves. Males are the leaders whilst women the followers whom should be passive in this man’s world. Beauty and the Beast furthermore shows males taking on all the successful/intellect roles such as the store owner, baker or hunter as we see in the opening scene. Females show no pursued intellect and carry out jobs such as washing or taking orders. With the exception of Belle. She is the only female we see with a dream of ‘adventure and far off places’ nevertheless this dream is taken away as result of the love for a male character. In order to save her father's life she must live with the Beast. Reinforcing males are the dominant gender. In the Little Mermaid Ariel depends on a man to reach her goal of having human legs. Ursula the evil sea witch gives her permanent legs in the deal that she will win Eric’s heart. Ariel does not show any wise talents however reaches her goal by claiming this man's love. Wachutka (2006) declares that “the most a female can hope for is to fall in love and she must rely on a male's assistance in life” The message is that females do not need to learn as they will not be successful anyway. Some girls may as a result fear being teased or known as unusual if they do show